WILLEMSTAD - Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning Charles Cooper doubts the partiality of Jeffrey Sybesma as a member of the Advisory Council. Cooper makes this known via social media.
According to the minister, Sybesma would also have a role as an 'activist'. Cooper writes this in response to an opinion piece in a Dutch newspaper. Sybesma would like to prevent the development of Oostpunt (east point area) to protect lizards. On Facebook, the minister says that Sybesma is "a disgrace to our Advisory Council".
Cooper receives support from Willy Maal, owner of the Oostpunt area. Maal writes that Sybesma is a board member of Carmabi and, in addition, as a lawyer, would oppose the development of Oostpunt in any process.
Sybesma responds in the piece to the plans for the development of Oostpunt. According to the Council member, this is not based on an opinion, but on the zoning plan for the area that cannot be changed just like that. Sybesma believes that Cooper 'disqualifies himself as a policy maker' with his statements, because nature and the environment have to give way to construction projects. This while nature is also of economic importance.